Apparatus and method for generating image including multiple people

ABSTRACT

Provided is an apparatus and a method for generating an image including multiple people, in which images are photographed, face images are detected from each of the photographed images, a face score for each of the face images detected from the photographed images is calculated, it is determined whether each of the face scores calculated for each of the face images is at least equal to a predetermined threshold, and each of face images having a highest face score for each of the face images is synthesized, to output the synthesized image as a final image, in order to generate a most satisfactory photographed image for a user.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a KoreanPatent Application entitled “Apparatus and Method for Generating ImageIncluding Multiple People” filed in the Korean Industrial PropertyOffice on Jul. 15, 2009 and assigned Serial No. 10-2009-0064488, thecontent of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus and a method forgenerating an image, and more particularly to an apparatus and a methodfor generating an image including multiple photographed people.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, when a user photographs multiple people, such as in a grouppicture, undesirable conditions may occur, such as when any of thepeople may close their eyes or exhibit an uneasy expression. If an imageis photographed during such conditions, the user must continuouslyre-take group pictures in order to photograph an image that does notinclude people with closed eyes or uneasy expressions. Further, even ifa photograph does not include closed eyes, uneasy looks, or people notlooking at the camera, for example, a person may not be satisfied withthe photographed picture, thereby requiring the user to re-take thegroup picture again. As such, it is difficult to take the group picturesuch that every photographed person is satisfied with the photographedimage.

In this respect, in order to obtain a satisfactory group picture, theuser can use a method of photographing a plurality of images andsynthesizing the photographed images using an apparatus or a programcapable of synthesizing the images.

Further, when the group picture is taken, if people who blinked theireyes or have uneasy expressions are detected in a photographed image, itis possible to minimize the appearance of the eye blink, etc., bycontinuous re-photographing.

As such, when the user takes a photograph of multiple people, such as ina group picture, the user may optionally photograph multiple images andsynthesize the photographed multiple images by using an image synthesisprogram, or detect eye blinking or smiling faces for continuousphotographing.

However, when the user synthesizes the images using an image synthesisprogram, that the user is inconvenienced, as the user must move theimages to a device in which the image synthesis program is installed anddirectly drive the image synthesis program so as to synthesize themultiple images into a single image.

Further, when images are continuously photographed according todetection of eye blinking or smiles, although images without eyeblinking or uneasy looks may be photographed, it nonetheless remainsdifficult to photograph images with which the user can be satisfied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve theabove-stated problems occurring in the prior art, and the presentinvention provides an apparatus and a method for generating asatisfactory image for a user when a user takes a photograph of multiplepeople.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus forgenerating an image including multiple photographed people is provided.The apparatus includes an image photographing unit for photographingimages; a face image detection unit for detecting face images for eachof the photographed images; a face score calculation unit forcalculating a face score for each of the face images detected from eachof the photographed images; an image determination unit for determiningwhether each of the face scores calculated for each of the face imagesis at least equal to a predetermined threshold; and an image synthesisunit for synthesizing each of face images having a highest face scoreamong the face images, and outputting the synthesized image as a finalimage.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method forgenerating an image including multiple photographed people is provided.The method includes photographing images; detecting face images fromeach of the photographed images; calculating a face score for each ofthe face images detected from each of the photographed images;determining whether the face score detected for each of the face imagesis at least equal to a predetermined threshold; synthesizing each offace images having a highest face score among the face images; andoutputting the synthesized image as a final image.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image photographing apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of generating an imagebased on a filtering face score and a selection face score according toa first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 3A to 3E are views illustrating a process of generating an imagebased on a filtering face score and a selection face score according toa first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of continuouslyphotographing an image in a predetermined number of photographing timesand generating an image based on a selection face score according to asecond embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of continuouslyphotographing an image based on a selection face score and synthesizingthe image among the photographed images according to the highestselection face score according to a third embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of re-photographing only aface image that requires re-photographing in the photographed images andsynthesizing the re-photographed face image according to a fourthembodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 7A and 7B are example displays of photographed images according toa process of re-photographing only a face image that requires there-photographing in the photographed images and synthesizing there-photographed face image according to a fourth embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings. Further, in the followingdescription of the present invention, detailed descriptions of knownfunctions and configurations incorporated herein are omitted when theymay make the subject matter of the present invention rather unclear.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating the construction of an imagephotographing apparatus according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image photographing apparatus according to anembodiment the present invention includes an image photographing unit10, an image storage unit 20, a face image detection unit 30, a facescore calculation unit 40, an image determination unit 50, an imagesynthesis unit 60, and a final image output unit 70.

The image photographing unit 10 includes a camera and outputs an opticalsignal from the camera as an image data.

The image storage unit 20 stores image data received from the imagephotographing unit 10 and a final image (not shown) generated accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

The face image detection unit 30 detects multiple face images within theimage input from the image photographing unit 10. The face image may bedetected by various general methods for detecting a face image.Therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The face score calculation unit 40 calculates a face score for each ofthe multiple face images detected through the face image detection unit30. The term “face score” refers to a score numerically expressing thedegree of a quality of the face image in the photographed image, thequality corresponding to a degree of a user's satisfaction with the faceimage in the photographed image.

In particular, the face score calculation unit 40 receives scoredvalues, which correspond to the degrees of quality of the multiple faceimages have been photographed, as input values, and obtains a singleresultant value by applying functions, such as a linear summation, anapplication of a threshold value, or an application of a higher orderfunction value, to the input values.

The degree of quality of the face image can be determined by a method,such as the blink detection, the expression detection, and the eye gazeestimation.

The face score is classified into a filtering face score and a selectionface score. The filtering face score refers to a face score used indetermining the re-photographing of an image and the selection facescore refers to a face score used in determining whether an image issatisfactory for the user.

The face score calculation unit 40 calculates a face score for each ofthe face images and outputs the calculated face scores to the imagedetermination unit 50.

The image determination unit 50 determines whether each of the multipleface scores input from the face score calculation unit 40 is at leastequal to a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold is apredetermined value for determining whether to re-photograph an image.

If all of the calculated face scores are at least equal to thepredetermined threshold, the image determination unit 50 directlyoutputs the photographed image to the final image output unit 70.However, if any of the calculated face scores is less than thepredetermined threshold, the image determination unit 50 outputs animage re-photographing signal informing, the image photographing unit 10of that an image will be re-photographed. The image determination unit50 can continuously output an image re-photographing signal to the imagephotographing unit 10 until an image having at least one calculated facescore at least equal to the threshold is included in the multiplephotographed images generated through the re-photographing.

If the photographed image includes a face image having at least one facescore at least equal to the threshold, the image determination unit 50determines which face image has a highest face score from among thedetected face images.

The image determination unit 50 also sets an image having the most faceimages having the face score at least equal to the predeterminedthreshold among the photographed images, respectively, as a referenceimage.

The image synthesis unit 60 synthesizes the set reference image with theface images determined through the image determination unit 50. Morespecifically, the synthesized image includes number of face images ‘N’having the highest face score.

The final image output unit 70 outputs the synthesized image. At thistime, the synthesized image can be displayed through a display unit (notshown).

Therefore, embodiments of the present invention provide an advantage, inthat each of the face images having the highest face score among themultiple photographed images, are synthesized with one another, in orderto conveniently generate satisfactory images for the user.

As described herein above, the face score is classified into a filteringface score and a selection face score to be calculated. Methods forgenerating the image using the calculated filtering face score andselection face score are described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

A method for generating an image according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, in which an image is continuously photographed basedon the filtering face score and the image is synthesized based on theselection face score among the photographed images, is described asfollows with reference to FIG. 2.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process for generating an imagebased on the filtering face score and the selection face score accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

In step 200, the image photographing unit 10 photographs ‘M’ images, andoutputs the M photographed images to the face image detection unit 30.Herein, M is an integer, and M equals 1 when the first image isphotographed.

In step 201, the face image detection unit 30 detects a number of faceimages ‘N’ from the photographed images. Herein, N is an integer.

In step 202, the face score calculation unit 40 calculates the filteringface score for each of the N detected face images. Herein, the filteringface score is used in determining whether to re-photograph an image.

In step 203, the image determination unit 50 determines whether an imagehaving at least one calculated filtering face score at least equal tothe predetermined threshold is included in the M photographed images.Herein, the predetermined threshold is a reference value used indetermining whether to re-photograph an image.

If an image having at least one calculated filtering face score at leastequal to the predetermined threshold is not included in the Mphotographed images, the image determination unit 50 stores thecorresponding photographed image in step 204, and outputs an imagere-photographing signal for photographing an M+1^(th) image to the imagephotographing unit 10 in step 205, and steps 200 to 203 are subsequentlyperformed again.

If an image having at least one calculated filtering face score at leastequal to the predetermined threshold is included in the M photographedimages, the image determination unit 50 determines whether the currentphotographed image is the first photographed image in step 206.

If it is determined that the current photographed image is the firstphotographed image in step 206, the image determination unit 50 outputsthe photographed image to the final image output unit 70 in step 209.

As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the currentphotographed image is not the first photographed image, the imagedetermination unit 50 sets the photographed image having the greatestnumber of face images having the filtering face score at least equal tothe threshold among the M photographed images as a reference image instep 207. Herein, the term “reference image” refers to a picture servingas a reference in synthesizing the images.

In step 208, the image synthesis unit 60 synthesizes the set referenceimage with the face image having the highest selection face scoreamongst the N face images among the M−1 photographed images. The term“highest selection face score” refers to the highest score among thecalculated filtering face scores, which indicates that the user will besatisfied with the face image. Further, the image synthesis unit 60coordinates the locations of the remaining face images based on thereference image so as to revise an image location that has been changedduring the synthesis of the image.

In step 209, the final image output unit 70 outputs the imagesynthesized in the image synthesis unit 60 as the final image.

In the present example, it is assumed that the image photographing unit10 photographs an image as shown in FIG. 3A. At this time, the faceimage detection unit 30 detects 4 face images from the image of FIG. 3A,and the face score calculation unit 40 calculates the filtering facescore for each of the 4 face images. If the third person has closedeyes, as shown in reference number 300, the calculated filtering facescore will be less than the threshold. Then, the face score calculationunit 40 outputs the image re-photographing signal to the imagephotographing unit 10 and the image photographing unit 10 photographs animage shown in FIG. 3B. If the second and third people close their eyes,as shown in reference numbers 301 and 302 in FIG. 3B, the face scorecalculation unit 40 outputs the image re-photographing signal again.

Thereafter, if an image as shown in FIG. 3C is photographed, the faceimage detection unit 30 detects face images from the image of FIG. 3Cand the face score calculation unit 40 calculates the filtering facescore for each of 4 detected face images.

The image determination unit 50 determines whether at least onefiltering face score at least equal to the predetermined threshold isincluded in the calculated filtering face scores of the face images ofFIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C.

As described above, the third person closes his eyes in FIG. 3A,resulting in photographing the image of FIG. 3B, and the second andthird people close their eyes in the image of FIG. 3B, resulting inphotographing the image of FIG. 3C. In this example, the third personcontinuously closes the eyes in the first two images, causing thefiltering face score of the third person to be less than the threshold.

Therefore, the image determination unit 50 outputs the imagere-photographing signal to the image photographing unit 10 so as tocontinuously re-photograph an image until the filtering face score ofthe third face comes arrives at a score at least equal to the threshold.

If the filtering face score of the third face is at least equal to thethreshold, as shown in FIG. 3C, the image determination unit 50 ceasesoutputting the image re-photographing signal to the image photographingunit 10. Then, the image determination unit 50 sets the image of FIG. 3Aas the reference image, as shown in FIG. 3D, and the image synthesisunit 60 coordinates the face images 303 and 304 in FIG. 3C with theimage of FIG. 3D and synthesizes the face images 303 and 304 with theimage of FIG. 3D. At this time, the final synthesized image is generatedas FIG. 3E.

As described above, according to an embodiment of the present invention,multiple images are photographed based on the filtering face score andthe final image including the face images having the highest selectionface score among the photographed images is output in order tophotograph the group picture with which the user is most satisfied.

A method for generating an image according to another embodiment of thepresent invention, in which the image is continuously photographed in apredetermined number of photographing times, the selection face score iscalculated for each of the photographed images, and the image issynthesized based on the calculated selection face score, is describedwith reference to FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a process of continuouslyphotographing an image a predetermined number of times and generating animage based on the selection face score according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in step 400, the image photographing unit 10continuously photographs M images according to the predetermined numberof photographing times.

In step 401, the face image detection unit 30 detects N face images fromeach of the M photographed images.

In step 402, the face score calculation unit 40 calculates a selectionface score for the N face images detected from each of the Mphotographed images. Herein, the selection face score refers to a scoreserving as a reference used in determining whether the user will besatisfied with the photographed image.

In step 403, the image determination unit 50 sets the first photographedimage as a reference image.

In step 404, the image synthesis unit 60 selects N face images havingthe highest selection face score among the selection face scores of theN face images detected from each of the M photographed images andsynthesizes the selected face image with the reference image.

In step 405, the final image output unit 70 outputs the imagesynthesized in the image synthesis unit 60 as the final image.

As such, it is possible to generate a most satisfactory image for theuser with only a small amount of calculation within the predeterminednumber of photographs.

A method for generating an image according to yet another embodiment ofthe present invention, in which an image is continuously photographedbased on the selection face score and synthesized according to thehighest selection face score from among the photographed images, isdescribed as follows with reference to FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a process of continuouslyphotographing an image based on the selection face score andsynthesizing the image among the photographed images based on thehighest selection face score according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

Referring to FIG. 5, in step 500, the image photographing unit 10photographs M images and outputs the photographed images to the faceimage detection unit 30. Herein, M is an integer, and M equals 1 for thefirst photographed image.

In step 501, the face image detection unit 30 detects N number of faceimages from the photographed images.

In step 502, the face score calculation unit 40 calculates a selectionface score for each of the N detected face images. Herein, the selectionface score refers to a face score used in determining whether thephotographed image is a satisfactory image for the user.

In step 503, the image determination unit 50 determines whether an imagehaving at least one calculated selection face score at least equal to apredetermined highest selection threshold is included in thephotographed images. In this example, the term “predetermined highestselection threshold” refers to a reference value for determining whethera user is the most satisfied with the face image. The highest selectionthreshold according to FIG. 5 may be set higher than the predeterminedthreshold the embodiment of the present invention described withreference to FIG. 2.

If an image having at least one calculated selection face score at leastequal to the predetermined highest selection threshold is not includedin the photographed images, the image determination unit 50 stores thecorresponding photographed image in step 504 and outputs an imagere-photographing signal for photographing an M+1^(th) image to the imagephotographing unit 10 in step 505, and steps 500 to 503 are subsequentlyperformed again.

If an image having at least one calculated selection face score at leastequal to the predetermined highest selection threshold is included inthe photographed images, the image determination unit 50 determineswhether the current photographed image is the first photographed imagein step 506.

As a result of the determination, if it is determined that the currentphotographed image is the first photographed image, the imagedetermination unit 50 outputs the photographed image to the final imageoutput unit 70 in step 509.

As a result of the determination, if it is determined that if thecurrent photographed image is not the first photographed image, theimage determination unit 50 sets the photographed image having agreatest number of face images having a selection face score at leastequal to the highest selection threshold among the M photographed imagesas a reference image in step 507.

In step 508, the image synthesis unit 60 selects a face image having thehighest selection face score from among each of the N face images in theM−1 photographed images and synthesizes the selected face image with theset reference image. The term “highest selection face score” refers tothe highest score among the calculated selection face scores, whichindicates that the user will be most satisfied with the face image.Further, the image synthesis unit 60 coordinates the locations of theremaining face images based on the reference image so as to revise animage location changed during the synthesis of the image.

In step 509, the final image output unit 70 outputs the imagesynthesized in the image synthesis unit 60 as a final image.

As described above, the embodiment of the present invention describedwith reference to FIG. 5, includes selecting a face image with which theuser will be satisfied based on the selection face score and outputtingthe final image using the face image having a highest selection facescore among the selected face images, in order to photograph a imagewith which the user will be most satisfied.

Finally, a method for generating an image according to further anotherembodiment of the present invention, in which only a face image thatrequires re-photographing among the photographed images isre-photographed, and the re-photographed face image is synthesized, willbe described as follows with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a process of re-photographing only aface image that requires re-photographing among the photographed imagesand synthesizing the re-photographed face image according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, in step 600, the image photographing unit 10photographs an image and outputs the photographed image to the faceimage detection unit 30.

In step 601, the face image detection unit 30 detects N of face imagesfrom the photographed image.

In step 602, the face score calculation unit 40 calculates the filteringface score for each of the N detected face images.

In step 603, the image determination unit 50 determines whether a faceimage having a calculated filtering face score less than a predeterminedthreshold is included in the photographed image.

If the face image having a calculated filtering face score less than thepredetermined threshold is included in the photographed image, the imagedetermination unit 50 proceeds to step 604. However, if a face imagehaving the calculated filtering face score less than the predeterminedthreshold is not included in the photographed image, the imagedetermination unit 50 transfers the photographed image to the finalimage output unit 70 and outputs a final image in step 608.

In step 604, the image determination unit 50 sets the face image havingthe filtering face score less than the predetermined threshold as are-photographing area. At this time, the re-photographing area can beset together with a predetermined size of area 701, as shown in FIG. 7,in addition to the face image area.

In step 605, the image determination unit 50 outputs a signal forre-photographing only the set re-photographing area to the imagephotographing unit 10, and the image photographing unit 10 photographsonly the re-photographing area, and the face image detection unit 30detects a face image in the re-photographed area and the face scorecalculation unit 40 calculates a filtering face score of the detectedface image.

In step 606, the image determination unit 50 determines whether thecalculated filtering face score is at least equal to the threshold. Ifthe calculated filtering face score is at least equal to the threshold,the method proceeds to step 607. However, if the calculated filteringface score is less than the threshold, the image photographing unit 10re-photographs the re-photographing area in step 605, and the imagedetermination unit 50 sets the photographed image as a reference image.

For example, if the image photographing unit 10 photographs an image asshown in FIG. 7A, the face image detection unit 30 detects 4 face imagesfrom the image of FIG. 7A, and the face score calculation unit 40calculates the filtering face score for each of the 4 face images. Sincethe third person has closed eyes, the filtering face score of the faceimage 700 is less than the predetermined threshold.

The image determination unit 50 determines the face image 700 as a faceimage for re-photographing and sets the selected face image as there-photographing area. At this time, the re-photographing area can beset together with a predetermined size of area 701 of FIG. 7 in additionto the face image area.

After setting the re-photographing area, the image photographing unit 10re-photographs only the face image corresponding to the re-photographingarea as shown in FIG. 7B. At this time, according to the presentinvention, the remaining image from the re-photographed image, exceptfor the face image corresponding to the re-photographing area, afterre-photographing the image, may be deleted.

In step 607, the image synthesis unit 60 coordinates the reference imagewith the face image corresponding to the re-photographing area andsynthesizes the reference image with the face image.

As described above, the present invention can advantageously generatethe image including the well-photographed face images based on the facescore numerically expressing the degree of how well the face image hasbeen photographed, so that it is possible to provide the user with themost satisfactory picture.

Further, the present invention can advantageously calculate a face scorefor multiple people from the continuously photographed multiple images,determine a best-photographed face image for each person in the multipleimages based on the calculated face score, and synthesize the determinedface images into a single image, in order to photograph an image withwhich the photographed people are most satisfied.

While the present invention has been shown and described with referenceto certain embodiments and drawings thereof, it will be understood bythose skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for generating an image includingmultiple photographed people, comprising: an image photographing unitfor photographing images; a face image detection unit for detecting faceimages for each of the photographed images; a face score calculationunit for calculating a face score for each of the face images detectedfrom each of the photographed images; an image determination unit fordetermining whether each of the face scores calculated for each of theface images is at least equal to a predetermined threshold and settingan image having a greatest number of face images having the face scoresat least equal to the threshold among the photographed images as areference image; and an image synthesis unit for synthesizing each offace images from other photographed images with the reference image, andoutputting the synthesized image as a final image.
 2. The apparatus asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the face score calculation unit calculates afiltering face score to determine whether to re-photograph an image or aselection face score used for determining whether an image issatisfactory.
 3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein thefiltering face scores is calculated for each of the face images detectedfrom each of the photographed images, and the image determination unitdetermines whether the face image having the calculated filtering facescore at least equal to the predetermined threshold is included in theface images.
 4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein, if a faceimage having a calculated filtering face score at least equal to thepredetermined threshold is included in the face images, the imagedetermination unit sets the image having a greatest number of faceimages having a filtering face score at least equal to the thresholdamong the photographed images as a reference image for image synthesis,and the image synthesis unit selects face images having a highestselection face score among the filtering face scores calculated for eachof the face images and synthesizes the selected images with thereference image.
 5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein if aface image having a calculated filtering face score at least equal tothe predetermined threshold is not included in the face images, theimage determination unit sends a re-photographing signal forre-photographing an image to the image photographing unit.
 6. Theapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the image photographing unitcontinuously photographs a predetermined number of images, the facescore calculation unit calculates the selection face score for each ofthe face images detected from each of the photographed images, and theimage synthesis unit selects a face image having a highest selectionface score among the selection face scores calculated for each of theface images and synthesizes the selected face image with a firstphotographed image.
 7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein theface score calculation unit calculates the selection face score for eachof the face images detected from each of the photographed images, andthe image determination unit determines if a face image having thecalculated selection face score at least equal to a highest selectionthreshold is included in the face images.
 8. The apparatus as claimed inclaim 7, wherein if the face image having a calculated selection facescore at least equal to the highest selection threshold is included inthe face images, the image determination unit sets an image having agreatest number of face images having a selection face score at leastequal to the highest selection threshold among the photographed imagesas the reference image, and the image synthesis unit selects face imageshaving a highest selection face score among the selection face scorescalculated for each of the face images and synthesizes the selected faceimages with the reference image.
 9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8,wherein if a face image having a calculated selection face score atleast equal to the highest selection threshold is not included in theface images, the image determination unit sends a signal forre-photographing an image.
 10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein if the image photographing unit photographs a single image, theface image detection unit detects the face images from the singlephotographed image, the face score calculation unit calculates afiltering face score for each of the detected face images, and the imagedetermination unit determines whether a face image having a calculatedfiltering face score less than a predetermined threshold is included inthe face images.
 11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein if aface image having a calculated filtering face score less than thepredetermined threshold is included in the face images, the imagedetermination unit sets the face image having the filtering face scoreless than the predetermined threshold as a re-photographing area forre-photographing and sends a signal for photographing only the setre-photographing area to the image photographing unit.
 12. The apparatusas claimed in claim 11, wherein if the image photographing unitphotographs a face image corresponding to the re-photographing area, theface score calculation unit calculates a filtering face score of there-photographed face image, the image determination unit determineswhether the calculated filtering face score is at least equal to thepredetermined threshold, and the image synthesis unit synthesizes thesingle image with the re-photographed face image if the calculatedfiltering face score is at least equal to the predetermined threshold.13. A method for generating an image including multiple photographedpeople, the method comprising the steps of: photographing images;detecting face images from each of the photographed images; calculatinga face score for each of the face images detected from each of thephotographed images; determining whether the face score detected foreach of the face images is at least equal to a predetermined threshold;setting an image including a greatest number of images having the facescores at least equal to the threshold among the photographed images asa reference image; synthesizing each of face images from otherphotographed images with the reference image; and outputting thesynthesized image as a final image.
 14. The method as claimed in claim13, wherein a filtering face score is used for determining whether tore-photograph an image for each of the face images detected from each ofthe photographed images; and wherein a calculated filtering face scoreis used for determining whether a face image having the face score atleast equal to the predetermined threshold is included in the faceimages.
 15. The method as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: if aface image having the filtering face score at least equal to thepredetermined threshold is included in the face images, setting an imagehaving a greatest number of face images having a filtering face score atleast equal to the predetermined threshold among the photographed imagesas a reference image for image synthesis; and selecting face imageshaving a highest filtering face score among the filtering face scorescalculated for each of the face images and synthesizing the selectedface images with the reference image.
 16. The method as claimed in claim15, further comprising, if a face image having the calculated filteringface score at least equal to the predetermined threshold is included inthe face images, re-photographing an image.
 17. The method as claimed inclaim 13, further comprising: continuously photographing a predeterminednumber of images; calculating a selection face score used fordetermining whether an image is satisfactory for each of the face imagesdetected from each of the photographed images; and selecting a faceimage having a highest selection face score among the selection facescores calculated for each of the face images and synthesizing theselected image with the first photographed image.
 18. The method asclaimed in claim 13, further comprising: calculating a selection facescore for each of the face images detected from each of the photographedimages; and determining whether a face image having the filtering facescore at least equal to a predetermined highest selection thresholdamong the selection face scores is included in the face images.
 19. Themethod as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: if a face imagehaving a calculated selection face score at least equal to the highestselection threshold is included in the face images, setting an imagehaving a greatest number of face images having the selection face scoreat least equal to the highest selection threshold among the photographedimages as the reference image; and selecting face images having ahighest selection face score among the selection face scores calculatedfor each of the face images and synthesizing the selected face imageswith the reference image.
 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, furthercomprising, if a face image having a calculated selection face score atleast equal to the highest selection threshold is included in the faceimages, re-photographing an image.
 21. The method as claimed in claim13, further comprising: if a single image is photographed, detectingface images from the single photographed image; calculating a filteringface score for each of the detected face images; and determining whethera face image having the calculated filtering face score less than apredetermined threshold is included in the face images.
 22. The methodas claimed in claim 21, further comprising: if a face image having acalculated filtering face score less than the predetermined thresholdamong the calculated filtering face scores is included in the faceimages, setting the face image having the filtering face score less thanthe predetermined threshold as a re-photographing area forre-photographing a face image; and photographing only the setre-photographing area.
 23. The method as claimed in claim 22, furthercomprising: calculating a filtering face score of the re-photographedface image if a face image corresponding to the re-photographing area isphotographed, determining whether the calculated filtering face score isat least equal to a predetermined threshold; and if the calculatedfiltering face score is at least equal to the predetermined threshold,synthesizing the single image with the re-photographed face image.